An attendant was robbed at her tollbooth in Hooksett early Monday morning, transportation officials said.

The Department of Transportation said the robbery happened about 1 a.m. on the southbound side of the interstate at the Hooksett tolls. Traffic is light at that hour, and police said that made for an unusually easy crime and getaway.

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"The location is so unique and so wide open, it really is a deterrent in and of itself to commit a crime in that area, let alone an armed robbery," said state police Lt. Mark Armaganiean.

Police said a man on foot approached one of the toll attendants, showed a gun and grabbed cash from the drawer. State police said they were there almost immediately.

"Our troopers went to the area. K-9s were deployed in the area to no avail," Armaganiean said. "We, at this point, are diligently running down leads."

Armaganiean declined to talk about specific details of the crime such as whether investigators believe the robber had been dropped off or had a waiting car nearby. He said the fact the robber got away so quickly shows that the robbery was planned well.

The robber was described as a white man wearing a black plastic mask, shorts and a dark T-shirt. The gun was believed to be gray and black.

"There are several people that work that shift during that time frame that could actually see what went on and what was going on," Armaganiean said.

Police said that in addition to talking to employees, police are looking to talk to drivers who passed through around 1 a.m. Anyone with information is asked to call 603-223-8496.